Jane Yolen's Blog, page 33
November 9, 2009
November 8, 2009:
I spent the morning printing up back email and filing, and then working on some of the blurbs for books for this website. Not glamorous work, but necessary stuff. This is the business slog that I have to go through now and again so that either Heidi–my P.A.– or Adam–my webmaster–can do their jobs.
By the by, the website now has a book trailer section thanks to Adam. Only two trailers so far, but Adam will get more done as time goes on.
Wrote another poem for the 30 Poems in 30 Days group.
And...
November 8, 2009
November 6-7, 2009:
A doctor's appointment, and a long interview with David White and two of his students took up much of Friday, along with writing a poem, looking over a bunch of my old poems while I thought about putting together a book of adult poetry, and going through a lot of back magazines that have been piling up.
Saturday Heidi and I left the house early, riding through sunrise towards Boston where we spoke to a group of about 50 teachers and librarians, along with illustrator Scott Magoon, Allen...
November 5, 2009
November 3-5, 2009:
Writing: poems for the 30 Poems for 30 Days. Noodling a bit on a not-yet-sold picture book. Worked with Heidi on a speech for Saturday in Boston.
On Tuesday the 3rd, I flew home from Richmond, Va., then went to Bob Marstall's studio to see how he's coming along on his book. It's going to be wonderful. We went out for dinner after and laughed our way through it.
Wednesday the 4th, worked all day on bills. Ugh. Signed 500 (count 'em) bookplates for Chinaberry catalogue. After the summer's push...
November 3, 2009
November 1-2, 2009:
On Sunday, I gave a talk about my life as a story at the Charlotte Turgeon Tea at Smith College's Alumnae House whih was very well received. Sold quite a few books. Met some old friends (including my next door neighbor!) and some new ones. Smith Alumnae of all ages and stages in life were there, some from as far away as Boston! Good tea, good food, and I hope a good talk.
A young woman working on an interesting Master's thesis interviewed me. Then I raced home to take Heidi, her girls, and...
November 1, 2009
October 28-31, 2009:
The only actual writing I am doing right now is on a variety of speeches I am giving over the next 30 days. And a few poems, the first of which will be written on November 1 for the 30 Poems in 30 Days project I am taking part in to raise money. And if any of my journal readers want to get in touch with me and pledge a certain amount for the poetry Nov 1-30, I will send you each poem as it comes outbe email. No guarantee of quality. Contact me at janeyolen@aol.com
On the 28th, Yolanda Leroy, ...
October 28, 2009
October 24-27, 2009:
This was my New Jersey, New York City trip, and it began with a train trip from Springfield to Penna Station. Daughter Heidi drove me to the station and away I went. Since business class was a whopping $16 (I think) more, that was a no-brainer. But–and here's the interesting thing–whereas the trains from St Andrews down to London give you free wifi all the way, American trains have not yet figured out how to do that. Not free and no wifi. Or at least East Coast Amtrack hasn't figured out how ...
October 23, 2009
October 21-23, 2009:
First, an apology to David Costello who I mis-identified as David Milgrim in my post below. In fact apologies to BOTH Davids, Costello who was at Michelson's dePaola party and who was part of our dinner after, and Milgrim who wasn't. If I could learn how to edit already posted Journal entries, I could have quietly dealt with it without the public apology.
Now for the actual Journal entry for the last three days. I was in Mississippi. Yep, flew down to give a speech for their Big Read event ( ...
October 20, 2009
October 18-20, 2009:
Stuff, doctor visits, and writing. Ah the glamorous life.
Sunday I read Adam's final fight scene for BUG which I tidied up just a little bit, added the climax between Sammy and the golem, and our first draft is done, done, done. Oh yeah, that small matter of going over the entire mss. one last time. Easy peasy.
Monday: Bone density exam (non-impact, unlike mammograms and colonoscopies!) Doctor's appointment, in which my numbers were revealed. Cholesterol down. Blood pressure down. Liver...
October 18, 2009
October 17, 2009:
Done. Done. Done. I finished the galleys for EXCEPT THE QUEEN (took about another four hours, including the xeroxing of the pages, collating, getting them ready for mailing on Monday.) But I am done.
Then I began working on my talk for Thursday down in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for their BIG READ event. Not reading any of my books, mind you, but WIZARD OF EARTHSEA so it makes writing a talk tricky. Also because it's for both kids and adults.
But the big event was in the evening: the 75th...
October 17, 2009
October 16, 2009:
In slightly panic mode, I spent all day working on the galleys of EXCEPT THE QUEEN since they want everything back by October 21. I got all the way to page 256 out of 370, so still–as you can see–I have a ways to go. Am being Senorita Crankypants with friends and family because of it.
Why, you ask? Isn't it fun re-reading your book in its printed form? Admiring the work that went into it.
Well, yes and no. I am sometimes amazed, gobsmacked at phrases I like and had forgotten writing. Of...
